Adjustable collar



June 9, 1931. H, M R 1,809,059

ADJUSTABLE COLLAR Filed Nov. 26, 1928 INVENTOR BY CLA RENCE [i Monwo wPatented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE H. MORROW, E CLEVELAND, oHIQ, ASsIGNQB To THE Ho'rSTREAM HEATEECOMPANY, or CLEVELAND, 01110,, A CORPORATION or 01110 ADJUSTABLE COLLARApplication filed November 2c, 1923. Serial 322,074.

This invention relates to domestic hot water storage systems, and moreparticularly to systems where the storage tank is jacketed with sheetmetal.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple collar to close andconceal the otherwise unsightly opening where the pipe or fittingsconnected to the storage tank pass through the metal jacket.

In the drawings, which represent one embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1is an elevation, partly in section, of the tank and heater; Fig. 2 is adetailed section, on a larger scale, illustrating the application of myadjustable collar thereto; Fig. 3 1s a front view of one of the collarmembers; and Fig. t is an edge View of the companion collar members.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 represents a heater .3? of any suitableconstruction, including the necessary coil or water circulating member(not shown) heated by gas or liquid fuel, with the products ofcombustion passing off to the stack by way of the pipe 2. The watercirculating member is connected by the pipes 3, 4 to the storage tank,which is a hollow cylindrical metal receptacle 5 with its cylindricalwall jacketed to conserve heat. A common form of jacket is a cylindricalsheet metal shell 6 of larger diameter than the tank 5, the spacebetween the tank and shell being filled or packed with heat insulatingmaterial. 7, such as asbestos or the like. Obviously, the watercommunications from the heater 1 to the tank 5 pass through openings inthe shell 6 and through the insulating material.

These tanks and the pipe fittings are, of course, more or less rough andthe workmanship in threading the bosses 8 in the tank is not accurateeither as to position or alignment, so that necessarily, to properly fitup the system, there must be some go and come for the pipes andfittings. As the result it is necessary to make the openings through theshell 6 larger than the pipe fittings which pass through them and it iscustomary to make the shell openings possibly an inch or so greater indiameter than the pipe or fitting. so The present invention supplies acollar which neatly closes and conceals this otherwise unsightlyopening.

In practice the heater 1 is usually located as close to the storage tankas possible, both to conserve space in packing and shipping, and whentheset is installed, and also to increase rigidity, because in modernpractice these storage heating systems or sets are built up and erectedat the shop in the complete form shown in Fig. 1 and are so shipped. Asa result, and especially at the lower opening, the fittings connectingthe water circulating member and the storage tank are very short andcompact. For example, and as shown in Fig. 2 there is screwed into thethreaded boss 8 a special union spud 10, threaded at one end and at itsother end provided with union parts, including the nut 11, as well aswith a non-circular wrench-hold portion 12. This union spud has its nut11 lying just outside of the jacket wall with only enough of thewrench-hold portion exposed to receive a thin wrench. No space isavailable for the boss or base of a casting large enough to cover theopening in the shaft and sleeved upon the fitting, as shown at A, Fig.1.

According to my invention I close the opening in the shell with a collarformed of two like-members 13, 1365, both made of thin metal, such asiron or steel sheets, and readily bendable by the fingers. Both membersare of washer form having a central opening 14 adapted to closely fitthe pipe or fitting where it passes through the shell. Each member isprovided along the edges of its opening with two like ears or lugs 15located oppositely to each other, and between them with shallow recesses16.

V In assembling the storage system, the collar described is secured inplace at the opening through the shell before it is applied to the tankor the installation is laid in place.

The two collar membersare applied, one to other member, so that they arefirmly interthen passed through the opening in the collar 7 and isscrewed into the tank,- andthe insulation is laid in place at any timeand in any manner, as desired. Therefore, within limits of size, thecollar enables the spud to be properly screwed into the tank with asufficient amount of go and come, and, regardless of its position at theopening in the shell, the collar closes the same and prevents the usualunsightly appearance.

This adjustable collar can be used for all openings where a pipe orfittings pass from the shell to the inner tank but it is particularlyadapted for those special places where, becauseof shortness or specialform of fittings, the parts are cramped and there is insufficient roomfor a cast collar or the like.

What I claim is:

1. In a hot water heater, the combination of a water tank, a jacketsurrounding the same and spaced therefrom and provided with an opening,a conduit member threaded into the tank and extending out through thejacket opening, said opening being larger than the conduit, and aclosure for the gap between said conduit and the edges of said opening,comprising a washer-like member closely fitting and slidable upon theconduit and extending outwardly over the edges of the opening, and meansfor permanently securing the same to the acket wall, whereby the conduitmay be removed from or inserted into the tank without detaching theclosure from the jacket.

2. In a hot water heater, the combination of a water tank, a jacketsurrounding the same and spaced therefrom and provided with an opening,a conduit member threaded into the tank and extending out through thejacket opening, said opening being larger than the conduit, and aclosure for the gap between said conduit and the edges of said opening,comprising two duplicate washerlike members closely fitting and slidableupon the conduit and extending outwardly over the edges of the opening,one within and the other outside of the jacket, said washer-like membersbeing each provided with means arranged to interlock with the other andthereby secure both of them to the jacket.

3. A combination of the form described in claim 2, in which saidwasher-like members are formed of thin sheet metal bendable to conformto the jacket contour, and the interlocking means comprises ears on theinner In testimony whereof I hereby afl ix my signature.

CLARENCE H. MORROW.

